Dog bites can cause painful injuries, lasting scars, and emotional trauma. If you were attacked by someone else’s dog, a Georgetown personal injury lawyer can help you pursue damages.
Since 2018, The Texas Law Dog has been advocating for injury victims in Texas. If you were bitten by someone else’s dog, a dog bite lawyer in Georgetown can help you take legal action and obtain compensation.
How a Georgetown Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help
A Georgetown dog bite lawyer can handle the legal side of your case while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Specifically, a lawyer can:
- Investigate the attack: A lawyer can gather information about what happened, where the attack occurred, and who is responsible.
- Calculate your damages: A lawyer can evaluate your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages and calculate your claim’s true value.
- Negotiate a settlement: A lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company and seek appropriate compensation for your injuries.
- Prepare for litigation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, a lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent your interests in court.
What Types of Compensation Can You Recover?
If another party is legally responsible for your injuries, you may be able to seek compensation for a dog bite.
Available damages in a dog-bite claim may include:
- Medical bills: You can seek compensation for reasonable medical costs associated with treating your injuries, including emergency care, medication, surgery, rehabilitation, and follow-up treatment.
- Future medical care: You can recover the anticipated cost of ongoing treatment if your injuries require continuing medical attention.
- Lost wages: You can seek compensation for income you lost while recovering from your injuries.
- Reduced earning capacity: You may be entitled to additional damages if your injuries affect your ability to perform your job or earn a living in the future.
- Pain and suffering: You can seek compensation for the physical pain and discomfort associated with your injuries.
- Disfigurement and scarring: You may be able to recover additional damages for permanent scars or other changes to your appearance.
- Punitive damages: If the dog’s owner acted with gross negligence or malice, you may be able to pursue additional damages.
Georgetown Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in Texas?
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. This means you generally have two years from the date of a dog bite to file a lawsuit, or else you will lose the right to pursue damages through the courts.
Exceptions may apply in certain situations, such as if your case involves injured minors. A dog bite attorney in Georgetown can help you file your claim on time.
Who is Liable for a Dog Bite?
While the dog’s owner is often responsible for an attack, they are not necessarily the only liable party.
Other parties who may be held responsible include:
- A property owner: A property owner could potentially be liable if a dangerous condition involving the dog was known or should have been known and the owner failed to address it.
- A landlord: A landlord could face liability if they had knowledge of a dangerous animal and failed to take action.
- A business owner: A business may bear responsibility for an attack if it occurs on commercial property and they failed to take reasonable precautions.
- A person caring for the dog: Someone temporarily responsible for controlling or supervising a dog could be held liable if their negligence contributed to the attack.
What If the Dog Had Never Bitten Anyone Before?
Even if a dog has no history of biting people, you can still sue the owner as long as you can prove they acted negligently. In other words, you must show that the owner failed to use reasonable care to control the animal, and that that failure resulted in the attack and your injuries.
Examples of owner negligence include letting a dog roam without a leash, failing to repair broken fencing, or ignoring signs of aggressive behavior. Even without a prior bite, an owner can be held liable for an attack if they knew their dog had dangerous tendencies, such as chasing, growling, or snapping at people.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Dog attacks can produce a wide range of severe injuries, including:
- Puncture wounds
- Lacerations
- Bruising and swelling
- Nerve damage
- Tendon and ligament injuries
- Fractures
- Muscle damage
- Infections
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Psychological trauma
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Georgetown
Your actions after a dog bite will have a significant impact on your ability to hold the dog’s owner accountable.
It’s important to:
- Seek medical attention: Get your injuries evaluated as soon as possible, even if they appear minor. Dog bites can cause infection and damage beneath the skin.
- Report the attack: Depending on the circumstances, contact local animal-control authorities or law enforcement to report the incident.
- Identify the dog and owner: If it is safe to do so, obtain the owner’s name and contact information along with information about the dog.
- Document your injuries: Take photographs of your wounds and continue documenting them as they heal.
- Collect witness information: Ask witnesses for their names and contact information in case you need to request statements later.
- Preserve evidence: Keep torn clothing, photographs, medical records, bills, and other evidence related to the attack.
- Follow your treatment plan: Attend follow-up appointments and follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.
- Avoid discussing fault: Don’t make any statements to the dog owner or an insurance company that could be interpreted as you accepting responsibility for the attack.
- Contact a lawyer: If you suffered significant injuries, our lawyers can break down your legal options.
Get Help From a Dog Bite Attorney in Georgetown
The permanent scarring and emotional trauma caused by a dog attack can affect your life long after your wounds have healed. If you were bitten by a negligent owner’s dog, a Georgetown dog bite attorney from The Texas Law Dog can help gather evidence to prove liability and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
Schedule a free case evaluation to find out how you can get paid for your injuries.
